Hey guys! Wanted to do a rather long update, preparing for the twist which will come soon! Just a reminder, this story IS NOT FINISHED. Once I finish writing How He Really Feels, I'll be writing the sequel, How They Really Loved. Just a heads up so you know what the title is!
Hermione ran, her face determined. If Ron finds out I took his bloody book, he'll never love me. She thought. I should never have gotten myself into this. I should have just gone off with Viktor, instead of getting myself into this mess with my best friend, of all people. But you know there's something more there, you feel it. By this time, she had descended the many flights of stairs leading to the Dungeon, or Snape's Potions Lair. She tried knocking on the door, but there was no answer. She tried opening the door, but that didn't work either. "Alohomora" Hermione said, pointing her long, designed wand at the heavy door. It wouldn't budge. Finally, using all her courage, knowing what dangers this might get her into, she pointed her wand at the heavy door again and yelled "Reducto!" The door was diminished to dust. She entered the dimly lit room and tried to make her way around, but because of the lack of light, she couldn't. "Lumos" she whispered, igniting her wand and walking around. There! She saw the book! Right on Snape's desk! As she raced forward to grab the lost possession, she stopped dead in her tracks. This is too easy. She thought. If he knew this was Ron's book, he would give it to Malfoy, or read it aloud. Not just leave it on his own desk, in plain view.
But suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a dark, nasaly, monotone voice coming from the shadows.
"Well, Well, Ms. Granger, looking for something?" Snape sneered, emerging from his hiding spot. "Unusually clever, Reducing my door, but, I must digress, you are the brightest witch in the year, making up for your lack of common sense." He said, enunciating the last words menacingly. "What do you think your'e doing, coming into my room? Are you LOOKING for something?" he said, his voice grimly low. Hermione gulped and flicked her eyes over to the book, unable to speak.
"Ah, Ron Weasles's Dream Journal, filled with his idiotic teenage hormonal troubles. I don't see why you would want it back, if it wasn't yours to begin with. Looking through your boyfriend's possessions isn't wise, Miss Granger, I advise against it." He smirked.
"He's not my boyfriend." Hermione replied firmly.
"Oh, really?" Snape sneered, now walking circles around Hermione. "That's not what Ron thinks."
Hermione gulped yet again. "What do you mean?"
Snape sneered. "Surely you've read the last part of the book, the note?" he said.
"Why no, I have not. And, Professor, it's not wise looking through your students belongings, you wouldn't want that getting to Dumbledore." Hermione retorted, retaliating his earlier jeers. Snape's face fell, but he could obviously tell, so he took a sharp intake of breath to recongregate himself. "Well, I guess I won't spoil it for you then, Ms. Granger" Snape said. "But I'd tread carefully with Mr. Weasley, there's a lot of, shall we say, mixed emotions going through his head about you." He said, emphasizing 'Mixed Emotions' Mixed Emotions? What Mixed Emotions? Hermione thought. Surely, I must read on. "So you'll give it back?" Hermione said, a little too hopefully. Snape sensed this and laughed coolly. "Ah, of course, Ms. Granger, but if it really means that much to you, I'm sure you'd give something up for it." He smiled. Hermione gulped. "Well, I'm good at magic, I can repair your door, I can brew potions for you, I can do anything." Hermione said, taking the easy route.
"Oh, no, no, no" Snape smiled evilly. "That won't do, Miss Granger. If it really means that much to you, I'd like to fail you for the next three finals." He said. Fail you on the next three finals. The monotone voice echoed in Hermione's head. To most people, this wouldn't be a big deal, but to Hermione, it almost reduced her to tears. But she had to do this for Ron. She had to do this for her…..friend.
"Deal." Hermione gulped and raced for the book. As she left, she heard Snape laugh and say,
"Not the brightest witch of her age anymore, now is she?"
Hermione arrived at the common room tired and out of breath from running five minutes later. Just before Ron turned around, she exchanged a look with Neville and chucked the book across the room, with Neville catching it and rushing upstairs to the Boy's Dormitory.
"Hermione! Blimey, are you ok?" Ron asked, ushering the breathless fourth-year girl onto the couch.
"yeah, fine, just left something in Potions that I didn't want Snape getting into." She said, catching her breath.
"Oh Yeah, what was it?" Ron asked curiously.
"Just a dream journal" Hermione blurted out, and she instantly regretted what she said. "You know, for Divination." She saved herself. The stricken look on Ron's face turned to that of relief. "Yeah, yeah, the Dream Journal." Ron said breathily. "I thought..nevermind." He mumbled. Harry looked petrified. "We've supposed to been working on that for the past month, right?" Harry asked. "Merlin, I forgot!" he said "Too much stress…" Harry added, massaging his scar and looking between his two friends. "Well, I'd best be going to bed. See you." He gave a weak smile to his two best friends and walked up the staircase that led to the Dorms. Ron soon followed suit, looking worried and mumbling a curt Goodnight to Hermione and grumbling as he went up the stairs "looks like I've got to look for the bloody book now…I wonder if she's seen it? If she has, Merlin I'll die. No, Hermione wouldn't. I trust her, she wouldn't lie." The voices died as he reached his Dorm. Hermione sat, a tear streaking down her face.
If there was one thing worse than failing three exams,
It's lying to your best friend.